From a Ducati press release:

FOGARTY INJURY UPDATE

Four times World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty, who was injured in a supermoto testing accident in Britain yesterday, is expected to be back to full fitness in 8-10 weeks.

The former Ducati factory rider suffered a fractured tibia and fibula of his right leg, the same as the one broken early in his career, in a slow corner crash with the factory CCM supermoto team at Anglesey in North Wales.

According to reports, he lost the front end of his 640 bike and his leg became caught up as it cart-wheeled.

On Friday evening, doctors at Bangor Hospital, where Fogarty was taken, manipulated the bones back into place and a reassessment of the injury was due to be made Saturday morning.

Professor Andy Carr, the specialist who followed Fogarty’s arm injury after last year’s career-ending smash, estimated that he would be back to fitness in two months time.

Michaela Fogarty declared: “Obviously we are very concerned at the injury. We had just managed to get him right with his shoulder so the last thing we needed now was an injury to his right leg”.

Fogarty, together with current factory Ducati rider Ruben Xaus, was expected to take part in one of the world’s most prestigious supermoto races at Mettet, Belgium next month.

AMA rules restricting pre-race practice forced Damon Buckmaster and rival John Hopkins to make special trips to Virginia International Raceway a week before the final race of the Formula Xtreme season, scheduled for VIR.

Buckmaster and Hopkins, who both headed to VIR with their teams this weekend seeking crucial testing and set-up improvements, are tied in Formula Xtreme points and the Championship will be decided by simple finishing position. If Buckmaster beats Hopkins, he becomes Champion, and vice versa.

Neither will be able to practice on Thursday prior to the AMA race because AMA rules ban any rider who is in the top 10 in Superbike or 600cc Supersport points in the current or previous year from participating in any practice days that are not part of an official race event or weekend, up to 10 days prior to the start of an AMA weekend at the same track. Official AMA practice usually starts on the Friday immediately prior to a race weekend, with Thursday practice designated Promoter Practice because it is usually conducted by the racetrack or race promoter.

Hopkins is in the top 10 in current AMA 600cc points, while Buckmaster was in the top 10 in 2000 AMA 600cc points.

Neither rider has ever raced at VIR, and neither has tested at VIR this year.

At this weekend’s WERA race, practice is extremely limited because two back-to-back endurance races have been scheduled for Saturday, with one 30-minute official practice session scheduled prior to the start of the first endurance race. WERA officials and regular endurance teams agreed to the arrangement because WERA teams and riders can participate in Friday practice run by the track itself.

The AMA practice restrictions were established because factory teams–which conduct many independent test sessions, typically costing each team between $70,000 and $100,000 throughout the year–don’t want to participate in promoter practice sessions and couldn’t come to an agreement among themselves. The wide net cast by the AMA rule has snared riders from independent teams racing in classes like Formula Xtreme and 750cc Supersport–like Hopkins–several times, with no sympathy from AMA officials.

Independent teams and riders rely on Thursday practice to get their bikes and riders up to speed, and find the extra expense of arriving one day earlier prior to an AMA National to be far less than conducting independent tests or making additional trips to participate in non-AMA races at any given track.

In this case, and with the championship on the line, Buckmaster’s team, Graves Yamaha, and Hopkins’ team, Valvoline EMGO Suzuki, felt the only choice was to spend the time and money to get what practice was available at the WERA event. Both teams were thus forced to spend money on five extra days of hotel rooms.

Why the AMA rule is not class-specific and why it must apply to riders in practice for classes other than Superbike and 600cc Supersport has not been explained by AMA Pro Racing officials, who have no personal experience running independent teams nor racing as independent professional riders seeking to make racing their primary means of support.

During Wednesday’s American Honda dealer convention, Nicky Hayden emphasized the importance of pre-race testing–and plenty of it–when he told the crowd that he was confident going into the AMA Superbike finale at VIR because his team had conducted extensive tests at the track, in independent test sessions.

The rule restricting practice emphasizes AMA Pro Racing’s focus on factory Superbike teams with little concern for non-factory teams and riders.

Copyright 2001 Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Beth Wyse

Team Pennzoil’s Chris “Opie” Caylor and Jamie Lane won the first of two WERA/GMD Computrack Endurance races at Virginia International Raceway Saturday. Loudoun Motorsports finished second overall and first in the Heavyweight Superstock class, followed by Vesrah Suzuki in third. Both Pennzoil and Vesrah compete in the Heavyweight Superbike class.

The field consisted of 26 teams.

Team Pennzoil skipped the podium ceremonies following the race, and said later that the team had to work on the bike.

At the green flag, Tray Batey on the Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R1000 quickly pulled ahead of Caylor on the Team Pennzoil Suzuki GSX-R750. But after an-hour-and-a-half of building a runaway lead, Vesrah saw the red flag came out for fluid on the track.

At the race restart, Batey again built a lead of over one lap. But Glen Szarek crashed during his stint on the bike, forcing him into the pits for repairs and dropping Vesrah Suzuki down to 8th overall. Team Pennzoil jumped into the lead, and lost it only briefly to Loudoun Motorsports after a round of pit stops.

Team Chaos used a Suzuki GSX-R600 to take first in the Middleweight Supersport class, at fourth overall. Triad Racing won in the Mediumweight Superbike class at sixth place overall.

Speedwerks Racing took first place in Lightweight Superbike on a Suzuki SV650.


Overall Results
1. Team Pennzoil, Suzuki GSX-R750, Heavyweight Superbike, 120 laps
2. Loudoun Motorsports, Suzuki GSX-R1000, Heavyweight Superstock, 119 laps
3. Vesrah Suzuki, Suzuki GSX-R1000, Heavyweight Superbike, 118 laps
4. Team Chaos, Suzuki GSX-R600, Mediumweight Superstock, 118 laps
5. Thermosman Suspension (formerly Clinton Cycles), Yamaha R6, Mediumweight Superstock, 118 laps
6. Triad Racing, Suzuki GSX-R 600, Mediumweight Superbike, 117 lap
7. Army of Darkness, Suzuki GSX-R600, Mediumweight Superbike, 117 laps
8. J&J Motorsports, Suzuki GSX-R750, Heavyweight Superstock, 114 laps
9. Leaning Lizards, Kawasaki ZX-6R, Mediumweight Superbike, 114 laps
10. XLR Racing, Suzuki GSX-R750, Heavyweight Superstock, 114 laps

Overall points after this morning’s race, with throw-aways taken out:
Vesrah, 619.305 points
AOD, 550.12 points
Pennzoil, 592.975 points
Loudoun, 529.775 points

A second endurance race is scheduled for this afternoon at VIR, following additional practice sessions.

From a press release:


MARLBORO VALENCIA GRAND PRIX, VALENCIA
Final Qualifying, Saturday September 22 2001

BIAGGI & MARLBORO YAMAHA ON POLE AGAIN

Marlboro Yamaha Team star Max Biaggi braved the first sprinklings of a rain shower to grab pole position from arch-rival Valentino Rossi (Honda) in spectacular fashion at Valencia this afternoon. The Italian will start from pole for the fifth consecutive time while teammate Carlos Checa will get tomorrow’s race underway from the second row.

Once again the times were tantalisingly close at this slow and tortuous circuit, with just 1.138 seconds separating the fastest 12 riders.

“This is another good day for the team,” smiled Marlboro Yamaha Team director Hiroya Atsumi. “Max was very strong again and Carlos was also not so bad. Everyone is very close here and that’s why rider confidence will be the most important thing tomorrow. We’ve been working in a slightly different direction with suspension set-up to achieve that, because this is such an unusual circuit. Our aim has been to give the riders even better rear-end feeling when they open the throttle. Also, the track is not so grippy, and I think that’s one reason why all the lap times are so close. One thing is for sure, the race will be very exciting.”


BIAGGI: NICE TIME, NICE TIMING

Max Biaggi rode to his fifth successive pole position at Valencia this afternoon, bravely ignoring light rain that had begun to fall halfway through his best lap, which he’d started just three minutes before the session’s end. The Marlboro Yamaha Team man kept his head down to record the fastest ever two-wheel lap at Valencia, outpacing Valentino Rossi by 0.207 seconds and bettering last year’s pole time by half a second.

“That was tough, halfway through that lap I saw rain on the screen, which made me nervous,” he said. “I can’t tell you what I was thinking but I couldn’t stop, I needed that lap and it put me on pole. I kept my head down, even though the rear was spinning up a bit, but for just one lap it was okay. We had been working on set-up for the rest of the session, so I knew that lap was my one chance for pole. We managed to improve the bike after this morning, but going race distance at a good pace will be a different thing from doing one good qualifying lap.”


CHECA ON SECOND ROW

Carlos Checa put himself right in the hunt for a good home-race result at Valencia, clocking the eighth-fastest time for a row-two start. With times so close, the Spaniard believes he can score well here, so long as he gets a good getaway from the grid.

“The bike is feeling pretty good,” said the Marlboro Yamaha Team man. “And I would’ve been quicker at the end without the rain. When it started to fall my split times had me three tenths faster than before, but no worries. We spent much of the session working on our choice of race tyres. We managed to make the rear a little looser so it spins out of turns, which keeps the front on the ground and improves steering. The start and the first half of the race will be very busy because there are so many riders who can do the same times.”


ROSSI SECOND QUICKEST

Valentino Rossi ended today’s session admitting that he might not have got pole even if he’d had a dry run to the chequered flag. “We worked hard, changing a few things early on, then fitting soft tyres to get provisional pole,” said the series leader who last claimed pole at June’s Catalan GP. “Then we worked some more on tyre choice but when we fitted my second soft rear, it started to rain. Even without that I’m not sure I’d have beaten Biaggi’s time.”


NAKANO BACK ON FIRST ROW

Class 500 rookie Shinya Nakano (Yamaha), who broke a hand at August’s Czech GP, was third quickest, his first front-row performance since July’s German GP and his eighth of the year. “I was worried about my hand but it was okay,” said the super-smooth rider. “I just concentrated on riding this very technical circuit which suits the Yamaha. Now I’m ready to fight tomorrow.”


FRONT ROW
1. MAX BIAGGI (ITA) Marlboro YAMAHA Team 1’34.496
2. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Nastro Azzurro HONDA 1’34.703
3. Shinya Nakano (JPN) Gauloises YAMAHA Tech 3 1’34.959
4. Loris Capirossi (ITA) West HONDA Pons 1’35.234


8. CARLOS CHECA (SPA) Marlboro YAMAHA Team 1’35.390

Copyright 2001 Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Beth Wyse

Vesrah Suzuki’s Tray Batey and Chris Ulrich extended the team’s points lead in the WERA/GMD Computrack National Endurance Series with a win in race two of a Saturday double-header at Virginia International Raceway. The pair completed 133 laps on the team’s Suzuki GSX-R1000 to win by 4 laps over Team Pennzoil’s Chris “Opie” Caylor and Jamie Lane on a Suzuki GSX-R750.

At the start of the race, Vesrah’s Batey shot ahead of the field, and never relinquished the lead.

Triad Racing finished first in Mediumweight Superbike and third overall on a Suzuki GSX-R600. Thermosman Suspension Racing finished first in Mediumweight Superstock and fourth overall on a Yamaha YZF-R6. The top Heavyweight Superstock finisher was Ridge Racing, at 8th overall on a Suzuki GSX-R1000. Speedwerks took its second win of the day in Lightweight Superbike on a Suzuki SV650, placing 13th overall.

Loudoun Motorsports was running second overall until throwing a chain in the last 15 minutes of the race.

Among the 30 bikes that started the race were several teams consisting of AMA riders wishing to gain more track time. Aaron Gobert, Damon Buckmaster, John Hopkins and Grant Lopez were the AMA regulars participating in the endurance race on Formula Xtreme machines, Gobert and Buckmaster sharing a bike and Hopkins and Lopez each running their own bike. None fielded serious endurance entries.

Overall results follow:

1. Vesrah Suzuki, Suzuki GSX-R1000, Heavyweight Superbike, 133 laps
2. Team Pennzoil, Suzuki GSX-R750, Heavyweight Superbike, 129 laps
3. Triad Racing, Suzuki GSX-R600, Mediumweight Superbike, 128 laps
4. Thermosman Suspension, Yamaha R6, Mediumweight Superstock, 128 laps
5. Team Chaos, Suzuki GSX-R600, Mediumweight Superstock, 128 laps
6. Army of Darkness, Suzuki GSX-R600, Mediumweight Superbike, 127 laps
7. Velocity Crew, Suzuki GSX-R600, Mediumweight Superbike, 126 laps
8. Ridge Racing, Suzuki GSX-R1000, Heavyweight Superstock, 125 laps
9. J&J Motorsports, Suzuki GSX-R750, Heavyweight Superstock, 125 laps
10. Neighbor of the Beast, Suzuki GSX-R600, Mediumweight Superstock, 124 laps

Overall Point Standings
1. Vesrah, 801.77 points
2. Pennzoil, 712.4 points
3. AOD, 693.02 points
4. Team Chaos, 583.135 points
5. Loudoun, 581.325 points

Max Biaggi qualified fastest for the 500cc Grand Prix at Valencia, Spain Saturday, taking 1.3 seconds off his time from Friday. Valentino Rossi qualified second-fastest, 0.207-second behind Biaggi. Combined qualifying times follow:

1. Max Biaggi, Italy, Yamaha, 1:34.596
2. Valentino Rossi, Italy, Honda, 1:34.703
3. Shinya Nakano, Japan, Yamaha, 1:34.959
4. Loris Capirossi, Italy, Honda, 1:35.234
5. Garry McCoy, Australia, Yamaha, 1:35.305
6. Alex Criville, Spain, Honda, 1:35.319
7. Kenny Roberts, USA, Suzuki, 1:35.326
8. Carlos Checa, Spain, Yamaha, 1:35.390
9. Jurgen v.d.Goorbergh, Holland, Proton, 1:35.433
10. Tohru Ukawa, Japan, Honda, 1:35.452
11. Alex Barros, Brazil, Honda, 1:35.556
12. Sete Gibernau, Spain, Suzuki, 1:35.634
13. Norike Abe, Japan, Yamaha, 1:35.839
14. Olivier Jacque, France, Yamaha, 1:35.863
15. Noriyuki Haga, Japan, Yamaha, 1:35.906
16. Jose Luis Cardoso, Spain, Yamaha, 1:36.299
17. Haruchika Aoki, Japan, Honda, 1:37.066
18. Anthony West, Australia, Honda, 1:37.117
19. Leon Haslam, Great Britain, Honda, 1:37.488
20. Barry Veneman, Holland, Honda, 1:38.524
21. Johan Stigefelt, Sweden, Sabre, 1:38.605
22. Brendan Clarke, Australia, Honda, 1:38.830


250cc Qualifying
1. Fonsi Nieto, Spain, Aprilia, 1:36.379
2. Alex Debon, Spain, Aprilia, 1:36.782
3. Roberto Locatelli, Italy, Aprilia, 1:36.946
4. Tetsuya Harada, Japan, Aprilia, 1:37.033
5. Daijiro Katoh, Japan, Honda, 1:37.064
6. Marco Melandri, Italy, Aprilia, 1:37.071
7. Jeremy McWilliams, Great Britain, Aprilia, 1:37.094
8. Naoki Matsudo, Japan, Yamaha, 1:37.152
9. Emilio Alzamora, Spain, Honda, 1:37.264
10. Roberto Rolfo, Italy, Aprilia, 1:37.553
11. Franco Battaini, Italy, Aprilia, 1:37.653
12. Alex Hofmann, Germany, Aprilia, 1:37.738
13. David Checa, Spain, Honda, 1:37.756
14. Randy de Puniet, France, Aprilia, 1:37.783
15. Sylvain Guintoli, France, Aprilia, 1:37.957
29. Katja Poensgen, Germany, Honda, 1:41.560


125cc Qualifying
1. Toni Elias, Spain, Honda, 1:40.381
2. Simone Sanna, Italy, Aprilia, 1:40.497
3. Lucio Cecchinello, Italy, Aprilia, 1:40.534
4. Max Sabbatani, Italy, Aprilia, 1:40.743
5. Steve Jenkner, Germany, Aprilia, 1:40.875
6. Gino Borsoi, Italy, Aprilia, 1:40.907
7. Noboru Ueda, Japan, Honda, 1:41.005
8. Daniel Pedrosa, Spain, Honda, 1:41.040
9. Joan Olive, Spain, Honda, 1:41.203
10. Youichi Ui, Japan, Derbi, 1:41.209
11. Gabor Talmacsi, Hungary, Honda, 1:41.331
12. Manuel Poggiali, San Marino, Gilera, 1:41.418
13. Eric Bataille, Andora, Honda, 1:41.437
14. Pablo Nieto, Spain, Derbi, 1:41.520
15. Angel Nieto, Jr., Spain, Honda, 1:41.538

Metzeler U.S. has a new website of its own at www.us.metzelermoto.com. The new site includes product information, tire fitment guides, application charts, technical information, warranty information, dealer network listings, company history, and news for American riders.

Roadracing World Circulation Manager Natalie Ulrich escaped serious injury Friday in a car accident in Lake Elsinore, California.

Ulrich, 18, was traveling at an estimated 55 mph when her Chevy Prism collided with a pickup truck making a left turn.

She suffered bruises, shoulder-belt abrasions and airbag propellant burns and was rattled, but escaped serious injury.

So if you’re making a subscription service inquiry via phone in the near future, go easy on her…

500cc Practice Times:
1. Valentino Rossi, Honda, 1:35.349
2. Loris Capirossi, Honda, 1:35.990
3. Kenny Roberts, Suzuki, 1:36.145
4. Alex Barros, Honda, 1:36.333
5. Sete Gibernau, Suzuki, 1:36.428
6. Carlos Checa, Yamaha, 1:36.710
7. Tohru Ukawa, Honda, 1:36.766
8. Norick Abe, Yamaha, 1:36.787
9. Max Biaggi, Yamaha, 1:36.897
10. Shinya Nakano, Yamaha, 1:37.235
11. Olivier Jacque, Yamaha, 1:37.253
12. Jose Luis Cardoso, Yamaha, 1:37.311
13. Noriyuki Haga, Yamaha, 1:37.377
14. Garry McCoy, Yamaha, 1:37.382
15. Alex Criville, Honda, 1:37.742
16. Jurgen vd Goorbergh, Proton, 1:37.887
17. Haruchika Aoki, Honda, 1:38.771
18. Anthony West, Honda, 1:39.115
19. Leon Haslam, Honda, 1:40.077
20. Brendan Clarke, Honda, 1:40.325

250cc Practice Times:
1. Marco Melandri, Aprilia, 1:37.346
2. Daijiro Katoh, Honda, 1:37.671
3. Jeremy McWilliams, Aprilia, 1:37.911
4. Alex Debon, Aprilia, 1:38.142
5. Roberto Locatelli, Aprilia, 1:38.473
6. Emilio Alzamora, Honda, 1:38.583
7. Randy De Puniet, Aprilia, 1:38.596
8. David De Gea, Yamaha, 1:38.627
9. Tetsuya Harada, Aprilia, 1:38.696
10. Roberto Rolfo, Aprilia, 1:38.719
11. Franco Battaini, Aprilia, 1:38.808
12. Fonsi Nieto, Aprilia, 1:38.959
13. David Checa, Honda, 1:39.036
14. Alex Hofmann, Aprilia, 1:39.150
15. Naoki Matsudo, Yamaha, 1:39.178

125cc Practice Times:
1. Toni Elias, Honda, 1:42.199
2. Lucio Cecchinello, Aprilia, 1:42.229
3. Max Sabbatani, Aprilia, 1:42.323
4. Simone Sanna, Aprilia, 1:42.745
5. Manuel Poggiali, Gilera, 1:42.776
6. Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, 1:42.852
7. Noboru Ueda, TSR-Honda, 1:42.872
8. Angel Rodriquez, Aprilia, 1:42.913
9. Angel Nieto, Jr., Honda, 1:43.106
10. Alex De Angelis, Honda, 1:43.141

From a press release:


TEAM VESRAH SUZUKI LOOKING FORWARD TO VIR

Practice began today at Virginia International Raceway for round 8 of the WERA National Endurance Series. Team Vesrah Suzuki leads the series by 60 points with three races remaining. Officially, this is the penultimate round of the series, but due to the rainout in Memphis, Tennessee, WERA will be holding two separate 3 ½ hour endurance races on Saturday. In an effort to increase their lead in the series, Team Vesrah Suzuki may field a second team aboard the back-up bike in race two. Sprint racing will also be a focus this weekend, as Mark Junge tries to clench the Open Superstock and 600 Superstock sprint championships before heading to the season final at Road Atlanta.

The dual endurance race schedule could change the race strategy for series leader Team Vesrah Suzuki. “We will run it like two 4 hour races.” Said team owner Mark Junge. “The race length will still dictate two stops for fuel and tires, but the shorter total time means we don’t have to stretch out the fuel.” Red Flags may determine when and how far apart those 2 fuel stops will be taken.

Team Vesrah Suzuki is planning on running their usual lineup during race one with riders Mark Junge, Tray Batey and Chris Ulrich. Regular team rider Glenn Szarek, who is still recovering from injuries sustained earlier in the season, will also be on hand this weekend but there is still a question as to whether or not he will ride. The decision to run a second bike in race two will not be made until after race one. Should the second team be fielded, Junge and Batey will ride the lead bike, while Chris Ulrich and either Glenn Szarek or another rider will be on the backup bike.

Mark Junge will be racing for early championships on Sunday when the WERA National Challenge Series takes center stage. Junge leads the Open Superstock championship by 30 points with only 40 points available in the two remaining rounds. A finish of 5th or better will chinch the championship with one round remaining. Mark enjoys a 16-point advantage over second place Chris Caylor in 600 Superstock. Junge could wrap up the championship if he can win and Caylor finishes no better than 3rd. Otherwise, it will go to the last round at Road Atlanta.

Team Vesrah Suzuki and Mark Junge are sponsored by Vesrah, Suzuki, Metzeler, Nielsen, Watahan, Fujico, Traxxion Dynamics, Marshall, Factory, Shoei, Sprocket Specialists, Air Tech, Vanson, Penske, Graves, DID, LP, Diadora, M4, Maxima.

Tray Batey and Chris Ulrich each run independently sponsored sprint racing programs when not riding for Team Vesrah Suzuki.